dickbraswell

Word for Today:  April 25

Wilderness experiences.

The nature of the believer is to resist the Wilderness.  Wilderness experiences are not pleasant.  We like comfort and convenience.  We like the tranquility of affluence and the relief from hardship.  In the wilderness there is hardship and uncertainty and loneliness.  There are tempting opportunities to doubt and wonder and waver in faith.  In the wilderness.  No assurance.  No guarantees.  No comfort.  No security.

We would all call every wilderness a “bad experience” and one that we would like to avoid.  We like normality.  We like stability.  We do not like uncertainties.  We are geared to want to know what to expect.  We resist anything that jars us out of our comfort and routine.

Most people I know either are in, just out of, or going into a Wilderness Experience.  What do we do when we are in the desert?  How can we profit from the unpleasant?  When will we get out?  Why are we there anyway?  What is God doing to us?

Moses was supernaturally selected by God for a special purpose.  He was redeemed from certain death and found as a baby by Pharaoh’s daughter.  He was raised in the king’s court and was being groomed for political leadership and power.  He was headed for great success.  Then he killed an Egyptian who was beating one of his Hebrew brethren.  He fled into the Wilderness to escape the wrath of the king.  He left the promises of Egypt and the prospects of Political power and wealth to become a sheep herder for his Father-in-law.

On the “backside of the desert” (That’s Wilderness) while he was keeping sheep, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flame of a burning bush.  God began to talk to him and it was at this very place, that he was called and commissioned to lead Israel out of Egypt.

It looked like Moses’ life was over.  It appeared that his future was bleak and all was lost.  In the Wilderness, Moses met the “I AM.”

His Wilderness became the turning point in his life.

Your drought may be the beginning of a great refreshing

Word for Today:  April 24

Life at its BEST.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 

“Life” in this verse is the word “Zoe,” a Greek term that describes a quality of life, not a quantity, but a quality of life.  It is the word that describes the very same kind of life that God has.  Jesus is saying here, “I have come that you might have life and that life will be the same kind of life that I have and the same kind of life that God has… ”

This is the abundant life that Jesus has given to you and to me.  It is not simply “living and breathing” or “natural, physical” life, but it is the same quality of life that God has.  The same type of Life God has.  It is the “God Kind” of life.

Can you imagine God being worried?  Can you imagine God being afraid?  Can you imagine God being sick?  Can you imagine God being in a bad mood?  Or having a “bad hair day?”  Can you imagine God being poor?   Can you see God being depressed or stressed?  Or sad, or melancholy or “blue?”

God is not saving up for a rainy day.  God is not getting ready to go to the hospital.  God is not tired out or “wore” out… God is not planning on anything bad happening to Him.  He never has and He never will.  God is just fine.

If God is OK then you are OK.

Regardless

Word for Today:  April 23

God says you can  

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Phil 4:13

Does this do away with all the “I can’t” situations?  Does this negate all “impossibilities” in your life?  Does this erase all excuses for self-pity?  Does this do away with all defeat?  Would God have said this if He did not mean it?

Does this apply to you as well as to others?  Certainly He said it and He certainly meant it.  Then all our problems have no “reason” for remaining in our life.

How much longer do you intend on putting up with all that junk the devil has piled on you and your family?  Is there any reason for not doing that “impossible” thing now?

If we know to “do good” and “doeth it not” the Word says it is sin (James 4:17).  Any Believer who has the Truth and is willing to cast off everything that is contradicting it, can step right out of the impossible and into the possible.  But it requires ACTION.  It requires DOING.  It requires RISKING.  But it will WORK if the Believer will really believe.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.   Mr 9:23 

IF we have knowledge of the Truth and apply that knowledge to our circumstances through the God Kind of faith then Victory will be insured.  Every time.  All the time.  Anytime.

No matter what

Word for Today:  April 22

God’s BEST is not a miracle.

God has promised to meet all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).  Jesus plainly told us not to worry about what we are to eat, where we are to sleep or what we have to wear (Mat 6:33). Remember?

Worry is faith in the devil.   Worry is faith in reverse.  Worry slanders every promise in the Word of God.  Prospering means having all your needs met with a surplus left over.  And this is the will of God for you.

Remember, God’s best is never a miracle.  God’s best is that you never need a miracle.  Miracles do happen but don’t you think it is better if you never need one?   Living in health is better than needing to be healed from some sickness or disease.  Living in prosperity is better than needing some miraculous financial break-through to keep you afloat.  Living in joy and happiness and peace is better than needing some kind of miracle to free you from stress and depression.

God’s promises are far better than psychological band aids.   Look up scriptures that promise you what you need and then simply believe what God says.  Believe what God says in spite of what you see, what you feel or what you think.

You do not have to live constantly in fear and doubt….  God says that everything you set your hand to will succeed.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  Psa 1:3 

Living in the constant blessing of God is better than needing a one-time miracle.

Word for Today:  April 21

Speak to your mountain.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith…  Mark 11:23.

Your mountain may be your circumstances.  Your situation.  Your sickness.  Your marriage.  Your finances.  Your children.  Your job.  God has equipped you so that you can actually talk to your problems in Jesus’ Name and when you do so in faith, they must obey your command.  Jesus went around talking to things that had no ears.  He talked to a storm.  He talked to a fig tree.  He talked to certain sicknesses and diseases.  He called them by name.  He even talked to dead corpses.   He set the precedent and paid the price so that you and I can do what He did and expect the same results that He got.

demons, devils and bad situations are subject to your “saying.”  Whatever you say to them in Jesus’ Name they must do.  Every knee must bow to the majesty and might of that Name.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to “feel sorry” for believers who are in trouble.   Do you know why?   Because if they are in trouble, more than likely, they do not know the Truth or have ignored the Truth or disobeyed the Truth.

There is no such thing as “I can’t” in the life of a Spirit Filled, Faith Filled, turned on Believer.  God expects you to take advantage of what Jesus has done for you through His suffering and sacrifice on the Cross.  Have you?  Are you?  Will you?

Your mountain will move over and make room for the Will of God in your life.

If you speak to it

Word for Today:  April 20

Get up and go

God spoke.  God still speaks.   And God is speaking loud and clear right now.  He spoke to Joshua.  He speaks by His Word.  He speaks prophetically.  He speaks by the Holy Spirit… He is speaking to His Church.  He is speaking to you and He is speaking to me. God spoke to Joshua and said, “Arise and Go Over…”   Jos 1:2

Arise means “get up.”  Arise means change.  Arise means do something.  Arise means get ready.  The command was to pass over the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.  Moses is dead.  The past is past.  The time to move is now.   Get Up and Go Over.  Do not plan on staying where you are.  Do not think it is going to be like it was in the past.  Do not believe you are going to be like you used to be.  Get Up.  Wake Up.  Move Up.  Move On.  And do it NOW.

It is time to stop living in the past.  It is time to:

“forget those things that are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before and PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…”  Phil 3:13-14

The manna was great, (remember the story in Exodus?) but it is time to press on.  The supernatural provision of the water was wonderful, but it is time to press on.  The miracles were astounding, but it is time to move on.  The helpless dependence on Moses was comforting, but it is time to move on.  There is Something Better.

Your “something better” is beginning today

Word for Today:  April 19

In the fullness of time.

When it is time, it is time.  What God has said will happen.  The plan, project and purpose of God will come to pass.  His will is going to be done.  His purpose is going to be accomplished.  Nothing can stop or hinder or prevent that which God has ordained from taking place.

Moses died (Jos 1:2).  His ministry ended.  His purpose was fulfilled.  His calling was completed.  With his death, an era came to a close.  A season passed.  “Moses, My servant is dead…”   It was time for something new.  It was time for change.  It was time for transition.  It was time to move on to higher and better things.

Right now, it is time for something new.  It is time for change.  It is time for the next stage.  The old season has passed and a new season has come.  New and different things are going to take place.   Transition time has arrived.

Things are going to change.  It going to be different.  God is the same, but His dealings and designs are going to change.  It is not going to be like it used to be.  The old patterns and plans are no longer in effect.  This is a new time.  This is a new place.  This is a new season.  “We have not passed this way before…”  (Jos 3:4).

Get ready for your New Season

Word for Today:  April 18

It’s not your battle.

Remember, the battle is not yours… it is the Lord’s and He always wins.  Some have faced the impossible.  Others have suffered vicious satanic attacks.  Many of you are right now “in the fire.”  Cheer up.  Your situation will turn around and work for your Good and for God’s Glory.  Your circumstances and hardships and reverses will become doors of opportunity.  You are called to spoil the enemy.  When he runs in retreat he always leaves more behind than he took.

And in nothing terrified (be moved by fear, to be terrified, to be frightened or scared) by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. Phil 1:28

satan works through fear and terror.  The Bible says he “roars” like a lion.  he can roar but he has no teeth.  he can bark but he has no bite.  The devil attempts to frighten you and to scare you and to intimidate you.  Where there is no fear there is no devil.

Perfect love casts out fear and fear has torment… torment is where the devil lives.  satan will try to make things appear worse than they really are.  he will magnify and amplify and exaggerate problems and situations until they seem to be hopeless.  he makes every sickness look like death.  he makes every “good bye” look like “gone.”  he makes every financial pinch look like bankruptcy.  he tries to make it look so bad that you will just give up and quit.  he is a liar and the father of lies.  he cannot tell the truth because it is the Truth that makes us free.  satan binds and imprisons and hold in captivity.

Jesus sets us Free.  Jesus gives us Life.  Jesus gives us Liberty.  Jesus gives us Victory.

It’s His battle and He always wins

Word for Today:  April 17

You are important.

You are called.  You are chosen.  You are important.  You are loved.  You are vital to the plan and purpose of Almighty God.  You are a participant in His Grand Plan and will fulfill a vital role in His Doings in this hour.  He will complete what He has begun.  You are not what or who you were.  You are now a New Creation in Christ Jesus.  And you have not even begun to be able to imagine just what you will end up being…

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  1 John 3:2

If you could see what and who you are going to be… you could not stand it.  It is more than you can comprehend.  The devil accuses and deceives and lies to Christians to get them to believe and think that they are worthless and no good.  That they have no place in and no part in what God is doing.  The devil uses lies and accusations and feelings of guilt and condemnation.  He reminds us of past failures and sins.  He is an expert in pointing out flaws and faults and then executing condemnation and guilt.  But…

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Rom 8:1

Some today have been attacked and accused and lied to…Some have believed the deception of the devil… Some are wondering if anybody loves them.  If anybody cares.  Some even have trouble believing that God loves them.  Is this you?  Do you want relief?  Do you long for victory?   Then:

Be confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  Phil 1:6

You Matter

Word for Today:  April 16

If we had no Living Lord we would have no Miracle Power.  If Jesus was not alive, the Gospel would have no power.  The ONE THING DIFFERENT about our MESSAGE is that it CHANGES LIVES!  It is more than philosophy and more than religion.  It is more than literature and more than history.  It is LIFE and it is POWER and RESTORATION.

The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST was and is the greatest RELEASE of GOD’S POWER in the history of all creation.

The RESURRECTION of JESUS from the Dead is the GREATEST EVENT that ever TOOK PLACE.  Nothing compares with it and nothing ever will.  It is the GREATEST and MOST GLORIOUS WORK that GOD the FATHER ever did.  It surpasses Creation.  It surpasses God’s dealing with men in the Old Testament.  It is the greatest MIRACLE of ALL TIME.  Nothing man has ever done can compare with the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead.  All the achievements of men fade and become unimportant when compared with the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST.

Paul says, without the Resurrection of Jesus:  (1) All our preaching is in vain  (2) our Faith is powerless and fruitless  (3) we are all guilty of being liars… false witnesses… those who do not tell the truth  (4) our sins cannot be forgiven… we are still guilty and condemned  (5) there is NO HOPE for those who have died in the faith… in other words, there is no heaven  (6) we, of all men on earth, are the MOST MISERABLE  (I Cor 15:14-19)

Because JESUS LIVES:

1. Don’t look for the LIVING among the dead
2. Expect your needs to be met… according to His Riches in Glory
3. Miracles Still Happen
4. Stand Fast… Resist the devil… Refuse defeat…
5. Live the Resurrection Life and expect Resurrection results

CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!!